Egg carton closure machine



Nov. l0, 1970 H. w. vooRl-us EGG CARTON CLOSURE MACHINE m' LJ.

-LUFH Nov. l0, 1970 H. W. VOORHIS EGG CARTON CLOSURE MACHINE 5 vSheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 31. 1967 Wim/cm( @125; #L

Nov. l, w76 H. w. doom-als EGGv CARTON cLosURE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Oct. 3l. 1967 WIL HMM

Nov. 10, 1970 H. w. vooRl-ns EGG'CARTON CLOSURE MACHINE 5 .Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 31. 1967 A INVENTOR M l/aa/ews Bv @Je @M MMM,

United States Patent O1 hee 3,538,679 EGG CARTGN CLOSURE MACHINE Harold W. Voorhis, Upper Nyack, N.Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 679,415 Int. Cl. B65b 7/26 U.S. Cl. 53-376 25 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is directed to an egg carton closure machine which utilizes a rigid tunnel die to partially close a carton by folding opposite carton flaps inwardly as a carton is moved through a die, the machine also using rollers pressing against the carton flaps to complete the folding of the flaps. A primary advantage of this machine is that the rollers are lightly spring-loaded to exert a predetermined pressure against the carton flaps in effecting their closing, but are free to move vertically to accommodate cartons of different sizes within a predetermined range of carton sizes. Also, breaker rods are employed to cooperate with cavity surfaces in the tunnel die with a carton ap therebetween to facilitate the folding of each carton flap along a predetermined fold line.

In egg carton closure machines of the prior art type a rigid tunnel die is employed for accomplishing the entire closing operation. Whereas egg cartons which are adapted for large eggs and .extra' large eggs, for example, are of the same width, these cartons are, of necessity, of different heights. In effecting the closure operation of cartons on machines of the prior art type, the vertical position of the tunnel die closure device has to be adjusted to a desired height, depending upon the size of the egg and the consequent height of the carton being utilized. Because the height of the rigid outlet of the die determined the final closed carton height, any particular height setting of the die rendered the machine usable only for eggs and cartons of an associated particular size.

The present invention seeks to obviate undesirable features of machines of the prior art type in providing a machine which is capable of handling cartons of various heights without adjustment of re-setting of the vertical position of the tunnel die being used. This is accomplished by using a tunnel die only throughout preliminary stages of breaking carton flaps along predetermined folding lines of a cover of the carton and aligning the Iiaps for closure.

Upon leaving the tunnel die, cartons of various heights will be in a partially closed stage, and will then enter a secondary or final closing stage. In the secondary closing stage a plurality of spring-biased rubber rollers are employed which engage various points along the carton aps, as for example at the outer edges and at the centermost portion of a carton top where the flaps meet, and the flaps are thus completely closed by the pressure of the spring-biased rollers. The spring-biasing of the rollers permits the rollers to be adjusted to different carton heights upon contact with cartons of various heights. Thus, it is readily seen that different basic loaded carton sizes can be handled by the machine of this invention in any order or sequence, without a change in the vertical position of the die, Also, the spring-biased mounting of the rollers provides a resilient end closing pressure which is effective for enabling the machine to handle cartons of a given particular grade size having minor differences in loaded carton dimensions, without crushing the eggs within.

Additionally, it has been found that the use of rollers Patented Nov. l0, 1970 advantageously minimizes the frictional resistance associated with a forward feed of cartons through a carton closing machine.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a carton closing machine capable of closing flaps of cartons of different vertical heights within a predetermined size range, without requiring interim adjustment of any of the closing means when changing from cartons of one size to cartons of another size within the range.

It is another object of this invention to provide a rigid tunnel die closure means for closing carton flaps to a partially closed position, whereby the tunnel die is capable of handling cartons of various heights.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rigid tunnel die for partially closing flaps of cartons of various sizes without adjustment, wherein cavities are employed in the tunnel die to provide partially-closing surfaces, and wherein the surface of one cavity is specially configured to guide an associated carton ap to a more closed condition than a flap associated with the guiding surface of another cavity at any given point along the tunnel die.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a carton closing machine which includes a rigid tunnel die having two flap-folding cavities therein for partially closing flaps of egg cartons being conveyed therethrough, wherein means are provided associated with each of the die cavities to facilitate a sharp fold of the carton flaps along a predetermined fold line.

It is another object of this invention to provide a carton closing machine having a preliminary closing stage capable of handling cartons of various sizes and comprising associated tunnel die cavities and breaker rods which cooperate to fold carton flaps passing therebetween to a predetermined configuration.

It is another object of this invention to provide a carton closing machine capable of completely closing cartons of various heights within a predetermined carton size range, by means of spring-biased rollers engaging carton flap portions being passed therebeneath.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an egg carton closing machine capable of handling egg cartons having a pair of closure aps thereon, and completely closing the flaps of cartons of various heights within a predetermined range of heights, wherein resiliently mounted rollers are employed which shift in their vertical height an amount corresponding to differences in vertical height of serially disposed cartons passing therebeneath.

It is another object of this invention to provide an egg carton closing machine including means for finally closing the ilaps of cartons of different vertical heights, without interim adjustment, wherein pivotally mounted springbiased rollers are employed for effecting the complete closure of the flaps.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel egg carton closure machine for closing aps of cartons of different vertical heights without interim adjustment, wherein a guiding keel is employed to effect a prior closing of one ap with respect to another.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel egg carton closing machine capable of handling cartons of different sizes without interim adjustment, and including a guide fin having an arcuate edge for engaging free edge portions of carton flaps and closing the flaps, in combination with horizontal guide means disposed normal to the guide hn, on each side thereof.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel method of closing carton aps comprising the steps of progressively camming flaps to a partially closed position, folding the flaps along predetermined fold lines, and rolling the aps into a finally closed position.

It is another object of this invention to accomplish the above method of closing carton flaps, including the step of automatically adjusting the position of a flap rolling means depending upon the size of a carton being conveyed therebeneath.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings FIGS. 1-A and l-B are partial plan views which, taken together, illustrate in plan view an entire egg carton closure machine of this invention.

FIG. 2-A is a side elevational view of that portion of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1 A, taken along the line 2-A, 2-A of FIG. 1-A, and wherein there is illustrated the tunnel die device for partially closing carton flaps, and a plurality of spring-biased wheels for initiating the nal carton flap closing operation.

FIG. 2-B is a side elevational view of that portion of the carton closing machine of this invention illustrated in FIG. l-B taken along the line 2-B, 2-B of FIG. l-B, and wherein there is illustrated the operation of several of the spring-biased rollers of this invention, effecting a iiap closing operation on a carton being moved longitudinally therebeneath.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of an open egg carton and tunnel die of the machine of this invention, taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1-A, and wherein the mounting of the breaker rods and their dispositions inwardly of the die cavities are best illustrated.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the tunnel die of this invention, taken along the lines 4 4 of FIG. 1-A, and wherein the initial inward bending of the carton flaps is illustrated.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the tunnel die of this invention, taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 1-A, and wherein the carton is illustrated at a later, or downstream position from that illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein folds are effected between die cavity surfaces and associated breaker rods.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through an extreme downstream end of the tunnel die of this invention, taken along the line of 6 6 of FIG. l-A, and wherein there is best illustrated the operation of a Vertically disposed keel, in facilitating the disposition of carton aps for closing of one carton ap prior to the closing of the other carton ap.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional View of the machine of this invention, taken along the line 7 7 of FIG. 1-A, or along the line 7 7 of FIG. 8, and wherein a carton with partially closed aps is illustrated upon leaving the tunnel die, and prior to passing through the second stage of a folding operation, wherein rotating wheels and guides will complete the folding operation.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the machine of this invention illustrated in FIG. 2-A, and wherein the pivotally mounted rollers and the guides are best illustrated about to engage a carton being packaged therebeneath.

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the machine of this invention, taken along the line 9 9 of FIG. l-A and the line 9 9 of FIG. 10, and wherein there is illustrated the engagement of rotating rollers with outer portions of carton aps, adjacent fold lines thereof.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, similar to that of FIG. 8, but wherein a carton is illustrated in a position, having engaged pivotally movable rollers, and having raised the rollers upon engagement to a position of greater height than that illustrated in FIG. 8, against the action of biasing springs.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the machine of this invention, taken along the line 11 11 of FIG. l-B, and wherein a rubber covered CII roller is illustrated, about to engage a portion of egg carton flaps along their fold lines, passing therebeneath.

FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view similar to that of FIG. 11, taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 1-B, and wherein a rubber covered roller is illustrated in a later engaging position along fold lines of adjacent flap portions.

FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view through the machine of this invention, taken along the line of 13 13 of FIG. l-B, and the line 13 13 of FIG. 14, and wherein the carton aps are best illustrated in their completely closed positions.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the machine of this invention, taken along the line of 14 14 of FIG. 13, and wherein heights of the spring-biased pivotally mounted rollers are illustrated in both the full line and phantom positions, depending upon corresponding heights of cartons in respective full line and phantom positions.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is rst made to FIG. 1, wherein there is illustrated an egg carton generally designated by the numeral 16, a rst conveying means 17, a first folding means 18 for preliminarily folding carton flaps, a secondary or final stage folding means 20 for completing the folding operation on carton flaps, a second conveyor means 21 (FIG. 2-A) positioned beneath the carton ap folding means 18 and 20, and a conveyor drive means 22 (FIG. 2-B).

Each egg carton 16 comprises a central divider portion 23, bottom wall portions 24 and 25, side wall portions 26 and 27, and ap portions 28 and 30. kEach of ap portions 28 and 30 is adapted to be folded along two predetermined fold lines, such as lines 31 through 34, into intermediate flap portions 35, 36 and outer flap portions 37, 38. A plurality of transverse dividers 40 facilitate the formation of cells for eggs `41 with the carton 16.

The carton 16 is generally carried from an egg-filling station by the conveyor mechanism 17 to the conveyor mechanism 21, along va conveyor belt 42, the carton 16 being confined at its sides by guide members 43 and 44.

The first flap folding means 18 includes a base member 45 carried by a plurality of supporting members 46. A pair of side wing closure flap guides 47 and 48 are carried by the base member 45. The guides 47 and 48 have generally upstanding vertical portions 50 and 51 respectively, and flared entrance portions 52 and 53 respectively.

A pair of carton lower side guides 54 and 55 are carried by respectively associated bracket members 56 and 57, the bracket members being mounted on the base member 45. IEach of the guide members 54 and 55 have outwardly curved portions 58 and `60 to facilitate entry of a carton therebetween.

A rigid tunnel die 61 is carried on the base member 45 by means of a plurality of adjustable supporting legs 63, 64, 65 and 66, which adjustably support horizontally disposed carrier plates 67 and 68. Each of the carrier plates 67 and 68 carries centrally disposed adjustable die supporting screws 70 and 471. Each of the supporting screws 70 and 71 are threadably secured into an upper surface portion of the die 61 as at 72 in FIG. 4.

The die 61 comprises two die cavities 73 and 74 having a generally triangularly congured central portion therebetween. Cavity 73 includes surfaces 76, 77, 78, 80, and arcuate surface portion '81, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. Correspondingly, cavity 74 includes surfaces 82, 83, 84, and arcuate surface portion 86. These cavity surfaces are proportioned to generally diminish the depth of the cavities 73 and 74, longitudinally of the machine, in the direction of travel, as is clearly evidenced by the successive sections of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

As is clearly viewed in FIG. 6', at the extreme eXit end of the tunnel die, the cavity surfaces are changed in slopes so that cavity 73 comprises two cavity surfaces 76 and 80, with a cavity surface 87 therebetween, the cavity surface 87 being the end result of a gradual merging of surfaces 77 and 78. Correspondingly, the cavity 74 is dened `by surfaces 82, 85 and 88, surface 88 being a gradually merged composite of surfaces 83 and 84.

It is thus readily seen that a carton entering the die 61 will have flaps bent through the successive stages of FIGS. 3 through 6, emerging from the die 61 in substantially the configuration of FIG. 6.

A pair of generally longitudinally disposed breaker rods 79 having downwardly and outwardly bent end portions are carried by a mounting member 89 secured to an inlet end of the die 61. The breaker rods 79 are disposed within the die cavities 73 and 74 to facilitate bending or folding the carton flaps 28 and 30 between the breaker rods 79 and cavity surface portions.

A keel 90 is provided at the exit end of the die 61, as is viewed in FIG. 2-A, and in FIGS. 3 through 6. The keel 90 is carried by the extreme lowermost tip portion of the triangular portion 75 of the die 61, and is disposed just to one side of a longitudinal center line of the machine, or just to one side of the central divider portion 23 of a carton 16.

It is also to *be notedthat the cavity 74 is specially configured to converge the associated carton aps toward a more closed position than is the cavity 73 adapted to close the carton flaps 28 toward a closed position at any given section along the die 61. Thus the cavity 74 cooperates with the vertical keel 90, to effect an earlier, or prior closing of the flap 30, as viewed in FIG. 6, than does the cavity 73 effect a partial closing of the flap 28. It is for this reason also that the keel 90 is disposed to the right of the central divider portion 23 of the carton 16, as viewed in FIG. 6.

The second conveying means 21 is disposed generally beneath the die 61 and the second folding means 20, and comprises a pair of endless conveyor chains 91 and 92. Each of the conveyor chains 91 and 92 is carried by associated sprocket members 93 and 94, with tensioning members 95 and 96 therebetween. A sliding plate member 97 is provided on the supporting base 45, having side portions 98 and 100, with respective guiding slots 101 and 102, for respectively associated endless chains 91 and 92. The chains 91 and 92 carry pusher elements 103, which are in upstanding vertical planes when in the upper run of the conveyor mechanism 21, whereby the pusher elements 103 may engage lower edges of transverse separators 40 of the cartons 16, to move the cartons 16 through the two stages of the carton flapfolding means 18 and 20.

The flap-folding means 20 is mounted on the supporting base 45 which carries extensions of the sliding plate 97, the chain guiding members 98 and 100, and the carton side guide members 54 and 55.

Additional carton side guide members 104 and 105 are provided, having funnelled entrance portions 106 and 107, being carried by supporting angles 108, mounted on the supporting base 45. Y

Four adjustable support rods 110, 111, 112 and 113, mounted on the support base 45 carry horizontally disposed support members 114 and 115. These support members 114 and 115 carry vertically disposed longitudinally positioned carrier plates 116 and 117, secured thereto by suitable angle brackets 118. A pair of horizontal supports 120 and 121 are mounted on the carrier plates and in turn carry a guide member 122, by means of vertical adjustable supporting rods 123 and 124.

The guiding member 122 comprises horizontal guiding portions 125 and 126, having upwardly arcuately curved portions 127 and 128 respectively. The horizontal guiding portions 125 and 126 are mounted on each side of a vertically disposed guiding fin 130, which also has an upwardly arcuately curved entrance portion 131.

As can be readily viewed in FIG. 7, the guiding n 130 is positioned slightly to the right, or off center of the central divider portion 23 of' the carton 16, to facilitate the closing of the carton ilap prior to the closing of the carton flap 28.

Bevel rollers 133 are provided, on each side of the folding means 20, spaced inwardly of and carried below the plates 116 and 117. Twelve rollers 133 are provided, six carried by each of the plates 116 and 117. Each of the bevel rollers 133 is mounted on an associated pivot link 134, with the roller bevelled faces facing toward each other, the pivot links 134 being carried by pivot members 135 secured to one of the plates 116 and 117. Tension springs 136 are provided, each secured to an opposite end of an associated pivot link 134, from the end to which the associated roller 133 is secured, the springs 136 each being carried by an associated pair of protruding lugs 137 and 138, one of which is fastened to the associated pivot link 134, and the other being carried by an associated carrier plate 116 or 117. The springs 136 are effective to maintain the rollers 133 in predetermined positions, and are suiciently resilient to permit the rollers 133 to be pivoted about the pivot members 135, when a roller 133 is engaged by a force more than sufficient to facilitate folding of an associated carton ap 28 or 3'0. When any of the rollers 133 is contacted by such a force, it is pivoted conterclockwise about the pivot member 135 and is thus raised vertically upwardly.

As viewed in FIG. l-B, a horizontally disposed support member 140 is carried by the carrier plates 116 and 117, the horizontal support member 140 cooperating with the horizontal support member 115 to carry therebetween a vertically disposed carrier plate 141, by means of suitable carrier brackets 142. Three cylindrical rollers 143, 144 and 145, of gradually increasing diameter are carried behind, or downstream of, but spaced between the last three pairs of bevel rollers 133, as can be best seen in FIGS. l-B and 2-B. Each of the rollers 143, 144 and 145 is mounted on an associated pivot link 146, which is pivotally carried at 147 by the carrier plate 141. Each of the pivot links 146 is spring-biased by an associated tension spring 148, which is mounted at one end of an associated pivot link 146 on a lug 150, and is mounted at its other end on an associated lug 151 carried by the carrier plates 141.

Each of the rollers 143 through 145 has a generally resilient rubber outer portion 152, and is mounted substantially centrally of and above the carton central divider portion 23, being operative to engage carton flaps and secure the innermost ap portions in position adjacent the carton central divider portion 23, thereby effecting a locking engagement of the carton flaps 28 and 30. The rollers 143 through 145 are adapted to be pivoted about their pivot members 147, in a generally counterclockwise direction as Viewed in FIGS. 2-B and 14, to accommodate cartons of different vertical heights passing therebeneath, yet still exerting a predetermined closing force on the carton flaps due to the tension in the springs 148.

The conveyor mechanism 21 is driven by the driving mechanism 22, which is best illustrated in FIGS. l-B and 2-B of the drawings. The driving mechanism comprises a chain drive comprising a chain 153 carried by sprockets 154 and 155. The sprocket 155 is mounted on a shaft 156, upon which is also mounted the sprockets 94 for driving the chains 91 and 92. The sprocket 154 is driven by an electric motor 157, through a suitable speed reducer 158.

OPERATION A carton 16 is illustrated in FIGS. 2-A and 3, being carried upon conveyor 42, and having generally upstanding flaps 28 and 30. The carton 16 is conveyed onto the conveyor mechanism 21, and particularly onto conveyor chains 91 and 92, whereby transverse wall portions 40 are engaged by pusher members 103.

Looking particularly to FIG, 3, the carton enters between the guide members 47 and 48, whereby the flap portions 28 and 30 are respectively engaged by the flared guide portions 52 and 53, whereby the flap portions 28 and 30 are urged inwardly toward each other, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4.

As the carton 16 passes further through the die 61, the flaps 28 and 30 pass against the breaker rods 79, closely adjacent cavity surfaces 77, 78, 83 and 84, whereby the flaps are bent inwardly along fold lines 31 and 33, whereby the aps 28 and 30 are separated into the innermost ilap portions 37 and 38, and outermost Hap portions 35 and 36 respectively.

In FIG. there is also shown, in phantom, the outline of an upper portion of an egg carton of greater height H2 than the height H1 of the carton 16. innermost ap portions of the carton of greater height are also illustrated in phantom adjacent cavity surfaces 78 and 84, illustrating the manner in Which a carton of greater height (H2) would be folded, or have the flaps broken against the breaker rods 79.

As the carton 16 leaves the die 61, the carton iiaps 28 and 30 are bent into positions similar to those illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein ap is in a more closed position than the flap 28, the innermost flap portion 37 extending downwardly slightly below the keel 90;, but still A positioned above and just to the right of the carton central divider portion 23. There is also illustrated in FIG. 6, in phantom, the arrangement of carton flaps of a carton having a height H2, as opposed to the carton 16 illustrated in full lines in FIG. 6, having a height H1.

It is thus readily seen that the die 61, as disclosed herein is capable of handling cartons of various heights, such that when cartons leave the die 61, the carton iiaps are in a partially closed, or incompletely closed condition. It is also to be noted that the particular die 61, once set at a predetermined position by adjustment of the supporting rods `63 through 66, and the supporting member 70 and 71, need not be readjusted to accommodate cartons of different heights, and that cartons passing through the die, because of height, will all be partially closed only.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 there is illustrated the carton 16 being conveyed by the pusher members 103 of the conveyor chains 91 and 92, beneath the second closure means 20. The carton 16 is guided into the outwardly opening end portions 106 and 107 of the guides 104 and 105, whereby the carton side walls 26 and 27 are urged toward each other, by the pressing of the guides 104 and 105 along the fold lines 32 and 34 of the carton 16. The carton aps 28 and 30 engage arcuate portions 127 and 128 of horizontal guides 12S and 126, by Contact of the ilaps with the guides at the respective fold lines 31 and 33 of the flaps. Also, innermost edges of the carton flaps engage against the vertical iin 130, and the placement of the iin 130 slightly to the right of the central divider 23 of the carton 16 insures that at any given point the ilap 30 is in a more closed position than the flap 28, as is illustrated in FIG. 7.

As the carton 16 is moved beneath the bevel rollers 133, the bevelled surfaces of the rollers 133 engage against the carton flaps 28 and 30, along respective surfaces 3S and 36 thereof, adjacent the fold lines 32 and 34. This engagement of the rollers 133 on the carton aps 28 and 30 presses the flaps to a more closed position, such as that illustrated in FIG. 9. The bevel rollers 133 are springbiased, by the springs 136, but will yield and can be pivoted slightly counterclockwise about pivot points 135, on the pivot links 134, should the carton 16 be of greater height than the shortest height that the rollers 133 can accommodate a ap closing thereof without movement.

The springs 136 are selected to exert a predetermined force on the carton flaps 28 and 30 through the rollers 133, but when a carton of substantially larger height is employed, the rollers 133 are pivoted counter-clockwise, being raised slightly in a vertical plane, from the position illustrated in FIG. 8 to the position illustrated in FIG. 10. All of the rollers 133 operate in this manner, thereby Cooperating in applying a relatively even force on the flaps 28 and 30 of the carton 16, and facilitating the closing thereof.

In FIG. 9 there is illustrated the manner in which the bevel rollers 133 cooperate with the guides 125 and 126 and the iin 130, to facilitate entry of the innermost iiap portions 37 and 38 into the carton, alongside the central divider 23 of the carton 16, and just to the right thereof.

The entry of the ap portions 37 and 38 adjacent the central divider 23 of the carton 16 is more clearly illus trated in FIG. 1l, concurrently with additional contacting of the flaps 28 and 30 by the bevel rollers 133, and also concurrently with a contacting of a rst rubber covered roller 143 against the flaps 28 and 30` along their fold lines 31 and 33.

The carton 16 then passes successively, beneath the rollers 144 and 145, disposed at different heights to successively engage upper surfaces of the carton liaps 28 and 30 and press the carton aps gradually into a completely closed position, such as that illustrated clearly in FIG. 13, when a portion of a carton is directly beneath and engaged by the final rubber covered roller 145. In this position the carton is completely closed and the aps are locked therein against the carton central divider portion 23.

It is to `be noted that the spring-biased pivotal mounting of each of the rollers 143, 144 and 145 is effective to permit cartons of various heights to pass therebeneath, facilitated lby a counterclockwise pivoting of the rollers 143 through 145 about their respective pivot points 147, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 14, in response to the movement of cartons of greater heights H2 therebeneath as opposed to cartons of lesser heights H1 therebeneath.

The advantageous nature of the apparatus of this invention is thus clear, in that there is provided a device which will close cartons of various heights without adjustment, by utilizing a rigid first partial closing means and a movable self-adjusting secondary or final closing means. Another advantage of the automatic adjustment of the rollers of the secondary closing means of this invention, is that after adjustment of position of the rollers from a position for engaging a relatively short carton to a position for engagement of a relatively higher carton, the rollers again resume ltheir original positions, in case the next succeeding carton 16 is also of relatively short height.

While preferred forms and arrangement of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

I claim:

1. A carton closing machine for cartons of the type having aps foldable over a carton opening comprising lirst means for preliminarily folding carton flaps of cartons of different heights within a predetermined size range without interim adjustment of said means, second means for completely folding the iiaps of cartons of different heights within said predetermined size range, conveyor means whereby cartons move relative to said rst and second means, and said conveyor means having a carton supporting surface disposed a fixed distance from said iirst means.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said first means comprises continuous guiding surfaces.

3. A carton closing machine for cartons of the type having flaps foldable over a carton opening comprising first means for preliminarily folding carton iiaps of cartons of different height within a predetermined size range without interim adjustment of said means, second means for completely folding the flaps of cartons of different heights within said predetermined size range, conveyor means whereby cartons move relative to said iirst and second means, said first means comprises continuous guiding surfaces, and said surfaces are deiined by a pair of adjacent cavities in a tunnel die, the depth of each cavity gradually decreasing from an entrance end to an exit end of the die.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein the guiding surface of one cavity is configured Ito guide an associated carton flap to a more closed condition than a iiap associated with the guiding surface of the other cavity at any given point along the tunnel die, during the passage of carton flaps therethrough.

5. The machine of claim 3 wherein means are provided to facilitate a sharp fold of carton iiaps along a fold line.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein said latter means comprise Ibreaker rods associated with and substantially longitudinally disposed within the cavities.

7. The machine of claim 6 wherein said rods are carried by an entrance portion of said tunnel die.

8. The machine of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises at least one resiliently mounted roller.

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein said roller defines means for engaging an outer portion of at least one ap and forcing the ap to a closed position.

16. The machine of claim 9 wherein mounting means are provided for said roller to have a motion component transverse to the relative direction of movement of a carton, whereby the roller position is automatically shiftable to accommodate cartons of various heights.

11. The machine of claim 10 Iwherein said mounting means comprises a spring biased lever carrying the roller.

12. A carton closing machine for cartons of the type having flaps foldable over a carton opening comprising first means for preliminarily folding carton aps of cartons of different heights within a predetermined size range without interim adjustment of said means, second means for campletely folding the aps of cartons of different heights within said predetermined size range, conveyor means whereby cartons move relative to said first and second means, the cartons are egg cartons, each including a central divider portion, bottom wall portions, and spaced side wall portions; the flaps being originally upstanding and extending from the side wall portions; wherein the first and second means when taken together include contact means for folding each flap along a first fold line to separate each ap into an innermost flap portion and an outermost flap portion.

13. The machine of claim 12 wherein said contact means include die guiding surfaces and breaker rods respectively adjacent opposite ap surfaces.

14. The machine of claim 13 wherein the breaker rods are positioned to engage each flap along the first fold line.

15. The machine of claim 12 wherein the first and second means when taken together include roller means for progressively engaging the carton aps at different heights and folding the outermost ap portions to positions normal to the carton central divider portion while folding the innermost flap portions into adjacent relation parallel to the carton central divider portion.

16. The machine of claim 15 wherein the first means includes the contact means and the second means includes the rolling means.

17. The machine of claim 15 wherein said roller means include a plurality of pairs of spaced outer rollers, and inner rollers positioned centrally above a path of movement of a carton therebeneath.

18. The machine of claim 17 wherein the die guiding surfaces are cavity surfaces of adjacent longitudinally extending tunnel die cavities; breaker rods being provided extending longitudinally of and associated with respective cavities for folding the aps along a rst fold line; and

1 wherein the roller means are pivotally mounted spring biased rollers movable substantially normal to the path of carton movement against the force of the springs.

19. The machine of claim 18 wherein at least one of said rollers has a relatively soft resilient rubber like surface.

20. The machine of claim 13 wherein the guiding surfaces include a vertically disposed keel means for facilitating prior closing of one flap with respect to another; said keel means being carried by said die.

21. The machine of claim 12 wherein said second means include a guide fin disposed substantially parallel to the carton central divider portion and displaced to one side of said divider portion to facilitate engagement adjacent and closing of a free edge portion of each flap.

22. The machine of claim 21 wherein said fin has a lower edge which becomes increasingly lower in a direction of carton travel.

23. The machine of claim 22 wherein said lower edge has an arcuate configuration.

24. The machine of claim 21 wherein horizontal guide means are provided normal to said guide fin on each side thereof to engage and cam the liaps along their first fold lines.

25. The machine of claim 15 wherein said second means include a guide fin disposed substantially parallel to the carton central divider portion and displaced to one side of said divider portion to facilitate engagement adjacent and closing of a free edge portion of each ap and wherein horizontal guide means are provided normal to said guide fin on each side thereof to engage and cam the flaps along their first fold lines and wherein said iin and guide means are located downstream of said first means in the vicinity of said roller means.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, Primary Examiner 

